Front end shimmy and tire wear issue

[iaff284]

I checked all the lugnuts and everything is tight. I double checked the hubs again as I just put in new wheel bearings on both sides and the hub nut is still torqued at the recommended 24 in/lbs but there is some play in the wheel/hub when I push/pull on the top and bottom of the tire. I think the upper ball joints are getting loose. My question is will the worn ball joints cause a shimmy or "chatter" when I go over pot holes. I think the front shocks are worn out as well because when I bounce the front end and let go it will continue bouncing three or four more times before it settles. I also noticed on the tires that just came off the front that the wear pattern is saw toothed across the treads and it looks like every other lug is worn down more than the next. Any ideas???

[jaawalke]

DID YOU CHECK YOUR BALL JOINTS. MINE WENT BAD AROUND 40,000 MILES

[gary2070]

Is this a 4x4? Check those ball joints by jacking up the tire and get a bar and put under the tire and see if you can get any up and down play out of them.

[iaff284]

There is a little play when I pull and push on the tire on the top and bottom. There is no popping when I turn either way. Will the warn ball joints cause the shimmy and odd tire wear pattern or is that more of a strut issue

[gary2070]

What are you working on? Year and Type.

[iaff284]

it's a 2003 2wd F250 extended cab short bed with the powerstroke and auto trans.

[melmount]

yes if ball joints are bad then the alignment is out. This causes tire wear. This causes it to drive and feel like crap. If a tire is worn badly and has off shapes to it, it will drive terrible.
Shocks will also cause it to feel unstable.

[Dasaliac03]

my buddy has this problem with his dually.

His drivers side front wheel feels like its all over the place, and there is a constant vibration in the steering wheel

its the ball joints in his case